Paved paths fit seamlessly into a carefully thought-out garden design. Paving slabs are ideal for this purpose. They're inexpensive, yet functional, and look very neat. Working with this material is very easy. Therefore, there's no need to hire professionals to create the paths. All the work can be easily done yourself.
Selecting tiles
Before arrangement garden paths You need to choose high-quality material. A wide variety of materials are currently used to produce paving slabs: plastic, wood, rubber, stone, or concrete. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, purpose, and functional features. These should be considered before planning a site or purchasing materials.
Plastic tiles
This is the most affordable path option. This material doesn't require complex processing or special installation techniques. Its advantage is resistance to fungus, pests, and rot. It tolerates moisture well and doesn't break when heavy objects are dropped on it, which is essential for a summer house. Installation is easy; it assembles like a construction set, so installing the path can be done by yourself.
A disadvantage of this type of coating is its instability in the vagaries of the Russian climate. Significant temperature fluctuations cause the plastic to lose strength. This coating can be destroyed by harsh chemicals, acids, and alkalis. It also wears out quickly.
Rubber coating
This material is made from used car tires. Its advantage is its high shock-absorbing properties. This soft surface is especially suitable for dachas frequented by children or elderly people. The rubber is abrasion-resistant and will last a very long time. This type of path is very easy to install. It requires no special subfloor preparation. Individual elements can be easily replaced if necessary.
The disadvantage of this type of flooring is its high cost. It's more expensive than plastic, some types of concrete, or clinker tiles. Furthermore, rubber burns, emitting acrid black smoke. If it's of poor quality, the tiles will quickly deteriorate.
Natural stone
These paving stones are made from natural materials by crushing and then shaping them into the correct shape. Their main advantage is their high resistance to damage. A natural stone paving will last for decades, withstanding any mechanical stress and exposure to aggressive substances. Thanks to the variety of shapes and colors, there's no limit to your imagination when creating a stone paving stone.
The main drawback of stone paving is its high price. Furthermore, this material is quite heavy, requiring more than one person to work with. Another challenge is that it's difficult to shape stone into the correct geometric shape, making it difficult to lay such paving neatly.
Clinker tiles
Clay mixed with dye is used to produce these paving stones. It is fired at high temperatures to create a strong, dense material. This material is very durable and resistant to mechanical stress. In terms of durability, clinker tiles are comparable to natural stone. They come in a variety of colors and shapes, making it easy to create a path of any shape.
The downside of this material is its fragility. Dropping a heavy object on it often causes it to shatter. It's also very expensive. Clinker paths are appropriate for areas of the dacha where aesthetic appeal is desired.
Concrete tiles
These paving stones are made from a cement-sand mixture with added gravel and colorants. Their advantage is a variety of shapes and colors. Custom-made pieces are even available. They are resistant to various loads and temperature fluctuations. This material is inexpensive, less expensive than natural stone and clinker paving. Therefore, concrete paving stones are an excellent choice for landscaping a summer house.
Concrete has few drawbacks. It's less durable than natural stone or clinker and begins to deteriorate slightly earlier. When installing concrete pavers, it's important to strictly follow the installation procedures and avoid mistakes, as they cannot be corrected.
Selection of materials
Beginners will find it more convenient to work with larger tiles, they are easier to install and repair. Therefore, for independent arrangement of garden paths It's worth purchasing concrete pavers 5 cm thick and 50 x 50 cm in size. You'll also need sand, sifted to remove stones and other debris. Various impurities in it can make it difficult to create a perfectly level base.
To mark the path's boundaries, you'll need wooden stakes and rope. Rebar can be used instead. To level the surface, you'll need a long, flat board. For laying the tiles, you'll need a tamper. You'll also need boards to use as guides.
Site planning
To begin, sketch the site and mark out paths to get a general idea. It's helpful to use a photo showing all the buildings. This helps analyze the existing structures and guides the proper placement of paths. They should be laid out so that it's easy to navigate the site and perform the necessary work. The plan helps determine the approximate scope of work and the required materials.
When drawing up a project for paths in the country house from paving slabs Consider their width. In busy areas, it's best to make paths 1 meter wide, allowing two adults to pass each other comfortably. In less crowded areas, 80 cm wide paths are sufficient.
Next, they begin marking the area. To do this, they drive pegs at the start of the future path and then place marks every 2 meters. Strings are stretched between them. If the layout has many curves, the marks are placed more frequently to ensure a more precise outline. The string is stretched 15 cm above the ground.
Preparing the base
After marking the contours of the future path, they begin preparing the foundation. First, they clear away all debris and rocks from the work area. If there's grass growing there, they mow it. Then they begin excavating the soil.
Soil excavation is carried out in the following sequence:
- Using a bayonet shovel, pierce the soil vertically along the marked contour.
- They remove soil from the entire area, controlling the depth.
- The bed is cleaned with a shovel.
- They compact the soil with a log.
Construction of a sand cushion
First, lay boards along the path's outline. The width of the curb is also determined. Sand is poured inside and spread evenly across the surface. If the path runs close to a building, a slight slope is created to prevent rainwater from collecting on the finished path.
Sand consumption will be high. For a given excavation depth, a sand layer 5 cm thick is required. Therefore, 1 cubic meter of sand will be required to create a foundation for an area of 21 m².
The laid sand is compacted with a professional gasoline rammer. A homemade tool made from a piece of lumber with a 15x45 cm base attached to it can also be used for this purpose. To protect the top layer from erosion, the sand is periodically moistened with water from a shallow watering can and compacted again.
Laying paving slabs yourself
Each paving slab has its own pattern. It is selected based on the size and shape of the pieces. The paving stones are laid tightly next to each other on a sand bed and pressed down with a rubber mallet. If necessary, they are leveled with a wide trowel, adding or removing excess sand. The laid pieces are checked periodically with a standard spirit level. However, perfect leveling is not necessary. Laying the pieces continues until the entire path is filled.
If some of the pieces are chipped, it's difficult to fit them tightly together. Small gaps of up to 5-7 mm are then left. A path paved this way will look neat and attractive, even if some of the pieces are imperfect.
Strengthening the edge and installing the curb
If the path width was miscalculated, the defect can be corrected. In this case, the previously excavated soil is added to strengthen the edges. This is then firmly compacted with a suitable timber.
To install the curb, dig a small trench. Its depth should be slightly greater than the curb's height, and the sides should be sloping. The bottom is filled with a 5 cm layer of sand. Then, install the curb at a slight angle. Its top edge should be parallel to the paving stones. Use a rubber mallet to press the curb into the sand.
Sealing the gaps between paving stones
Once all the tiles are laid, the spaces between them are filled with sifted sand. This is done using a metal mesh or a special sieve. Only dry material is used to fill the joints. If the sand mixture is wet, it is dried before being used to fill the gaps.
After spreading the sand over the paving stones, use a stiff-bristled brush to sweep it into the spaces between the individual tiles. To ensure a more secure fit, periodically water the sand with a hose. The sand may settle after a while, as it's difficult to fill the gaps properly the first time. Then, add more.
In conclusion
The proposed method allows you to quickly build a path in your dacha using inexpensive concrete pavers. Moreover, all the work is easy to do yourself. There's no need to hire outside workers. If done correctly, the path will last for many years.